Sunday, August 24, 2014

Chelsea vs. Leicester City: Final score 2-0, Costa and Hazard do the damage for the Blues

Chelsea vs. Leicester City: Final score 2-0, Costa and Hazard do the damage for the Blues

By   @GingeFC on Aug 23 2014, 11:50a 1 
Paul Gilham
The Blues survived a tough challenge from Leicester City thanks to second half goals from Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, along with a tremendous performance from Thibaut Courtois.
Chelsea defeated Leicester City on Saturday thanks in large part to two of the summer additions. Diego Costa scored the match winner midway through the second half and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was brilliant, keeping the Foxes from getting a point, or possibly more, from the match.
Both sides looked capable of scoring over the opening 20 minutes of the match, but neither was able to break through. Chelsea were clearly the better side, but Leicester were able to trouble the Blues on the counter attack, just like they did against Evertonlast week.
As the half went on, that early control from Chelsea eroded as the Foxes were able to frustrate Chelsea through the midfield, and even out the possession a bit. The key was the 50/50 balls, many of which were being won by Leicester players.
Leicester provided the first real test for either goalkeeper in the 32nd minute when Riyad Mahrez turned Cesar Azpilicueta in circles outside the Chelsea box. The move created space for Mahrez to fire a low shot that curled around one defender and forced a quick reaction from Thibaut Courtois, who was able to get down and block the effort.
Chelsea looked best when they were able to counter quickly and prevent Leicester from settling in to their defensive formation. In the 36th minute, some quick ball movement forward gave Diego Costa a wide open chance on the edge of the penalty area, but the striker got under his shot a bit, lifting it well over the goal.
Oscar very nearly put Chelsea ahead in the 48th minute but was denied by the ever-fickle woodwork. The Brazilian's shot from the edge of the box eluded Kaspar Schmeichel, but hammered off the far post. 30 seconds latter, Branislav Ivanović was denied by Schmeichel with an excellent reflex save after the defender came slicing across the box and curled a header on frame.
The match then became a back-and-forth affair as the two teams traded counter-attacking chances. Twice Leicester looked sure to score but twice Courtois made excellent saves to deny David Nugent. The Chelsea goalkeeper blocked Nugent's open shot with his legs in the 51st minute. Courtois followed that up three minutes later with a fantastic save, rapidly coming off his line to break up what looked to be a sure goal after Nugent hesitated on taking a shot as he moved in on goal.
At last in the 63rd minute, Chelsea broke the deadlock as Diego Costa scored in his second straight match to give the Blues a 1-0 lead. Ivanovic's short pass from the right was deflected up to Costa's chest and the striker settled the ball down quickly, somehow managing to get his shot off under the arm of Schmeichel for his second goal of the young season.
The Blues sealed the victory in the 77th minute when Eden Hazard scored a wonderful goal to make it 2-0. Hazard abused a defender on the left wing, moved across the box into space before firing a shot that nutmegged one defender before taking a slight deflection of the toe of Wes Morgan. The deflection may not have ultimately mattered, but it ensured that Schmeichel had no chance to make a stop.
Chelsea: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Terry, Cahill, Ivanović, Matić, Fàbregas, Hazard, Oscar (Willian 70'), Schürrle (Ramires 64'), Diego Costa (Drogba 80')
Goals: Costa (63'), Hazard (77')
Leicester City: Schmeichel, Konchesky, Moore, Morgan, De Laet, Schlupp, Hammond (Taylor-Fletcher 73'), King, Mahrez (Albrighton 68'), Ulloa (Wood 84'), Nugent
Goals: None

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